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It’s been a busy, active and fun year so far at AIN Plastics. Already this year we have had charity golf outings, 5K run walk events, bike rides and much more. This year’s annual World Heath and Safety Day at tkmna was no exception. thyssenkrupp Director of Safety Programs & 6S, Derek Overly, noted that the event had primarily focused on employee safety in past years. But this year the company wanted to add to the health side of the day. In fact, thyssenkrupp’s motto for this year was one word “Movement”! On the schedule was a lunch and learn featuring Dr. Barry Franklin from Beaumont Health and AIN Plastics, Markala Goodson, who spoke about the company group called tkactive. The day ended in a 5k Run Walk event for all employees.

Guest speaker, Dr. Barry Franklin presented great information on the importance of an active lifestyle

Dr. Franklin provided an entertaining discussion of how everyone can do easy things to improve their health and create a healthy lifestyle no matter your age or current level of activity. Along with this, two lucky people took home a new fitbit, a great way to help track progress and keep you on track with fitness and healthy eating goals.

Next up in the day, Markala Goodson, presented information about thyssenkrupp’s tkactive program which is open to all tkmna employees. The group initially began in the AIN Plastics Division as AINFit. AIN’s goal was to create a fun way to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and to support each other whoever we are. AINFit has an active FitBit group where you will find members challenging and cheering each other on as they meet their step goals. AINFit members also challenge each other with monthly contests and team up for everything from 5K run walks, to Mud Runs, and Bike rides. It’s been a great way to keep in contact with everyone and to work as a team even though our branches extend from the East coast to Dallas.

Markala Goodson, AIN Plastics Associate presented tkactive at World Health and Safety Day

Some members of AINFit began by walking and have gone on to run their first 10Ks and beyond! The AINFit program has now gone company-wide and become tkactve. It’s free to employees, and has a simple goal of providing tips and information to achieve and maintain a healthy active lifestyle and to support each other. To that end Markala is always looking to add local 5K run walks, bike rides, and other activities employees can take part in. She is also doing contests for tkactive participants and keeps everyone up to date on the tkactive Twitter.

For World Health and Safety Day, Markala also brought in Catherine A. Smith, Executive Director/Vice President, Development, Midwest Affiliate from the American Heart Association. The Michigan area tkactive team joined in the annual Heart Walk in Detroit on May 14. In support of the

American Heart Association, thyssenkrupp will do a donation to the association for every employee that takes part.

On March 7, thyssenkrupp’s WE Move the World event began, a global step event for all employees of thyssenkrupp around the world. tKMNA’s Southfield office stepped it up on World Health and Safety Day with a 5K run walk and, in spite of the cold rainy day, the turnout was great and everyone enjoyed the course that lead everyone through a local neighborhood and park.

Other events for the day included a safety talk and some great healthy breakfasts, snacks, and lunches at other locations including AIN Plastics Kennesaw and Dallas. Topping it off, AIN Plastics Canton did their first 5K as a team and got the gear too!

AIN Plastics Canton does their Fit Gear

and they’re off! walkers and runners starting out on the Southfield 5K

AIN Plastics and everyone with tk One Source enjoy lunch for World Health and Safety Day

AIN Kennesaw laid out healthy snacks and hosted a safety meeting to keep everyone on track.

Last year AIN Plastics Michigan took part in the Corporate Field Day and they will be back – better than ever in 2016

thyssenkrupp Southfield added steps to the WE Move the World event with a 5K

Markala Goodson, AIN Plastics Associate presented tkactive at World Health and Safety Day

Derek Overly is the host for the day at Southfield thyssenkrupp’s World Health and Safety Day

Guest speaker, Dr. Barry Franklin presented great information on the importance of an active lifestyle

Keep up with thyssenkrupp and everyone at AIN Plastics. We would love to be cheered on as we head out to more events. To find out more about how you can participate in the American Heart Association Heart Walks visit their site. Although the Detroit Walk for 2016 is past, other locations across Michigan and in other states are still coming up this year – You can visit them at heartwalk.org.

See you in the blogosphere again soon

Lisa Anderson

Marketing Manager
ThyssenKrupp Materials, NA
AIN Plastics Division

About Lisa AndersonMs. Anderson has been ThyssenKrupp Materials AIN Plastics Division for over 4 years. She brings 20+ years of advertising, award winning graphic design, social media and marketing. She has worked in book publishing, advertising agencies, printing, manufacturing, and the apartment industry. Ms. Anderson has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI.

AIN Plastics, a Division of ThyssenKrupp Materials NA. It sounds huge doesn’t it? Well, it is. ThyssenKrupp Materials NA is part of a global company that includes divisions for aerospace, elevators, materials services and much more. But there is also a local side to all of this. AIN Plastics Division has local branches throughout the U.S. and each of those branches provides materials across the U.S. but just as often, they do within their local community. Sales reps are in each area assisting customers personally, and of course these are the communities we live our lives in. Although we do projects and events that the entire company takes part in, our local branches don’t stop at that and say good enough. AIN Plastics local branches, like many local businesses enjoy doing events to help improve the community they are a part of. Whether it’s helping out the local school robotics team, donating time at the local food bank, or doing a roadside beautification project, you will find our branches are out getting together and doing things to make a difference in their community.

Recently I was talking with Terry Tewell, Branch Manager for AIN Plastics in Lancaster, PA about a potential new project. As we talked he also shared a project his team helped with earlier this year. Terry said it was a donation of materials, but what really struck the whole team was what it really meant to donate clear acrylic to a young Boy Scout and all that one simple act to us meant to him. Below is the letter the AIN Plastics Lancaster team received back from now Eagle Scout, Derian Erb.

Dear AIN Plastics,

On May 8th, 2013 I was awarded the Rank of Eagle Scout. I would like to personally than you for your donation of three sheets of pled- glass. Without it, my project would not have been completed. As you can see; along with your donation, it took 5 months and over 230 man hours to build and install 2 information kiosks at the Blue Rock Boat Launch along the Susquehanna River.

The purpose of my project was to build information kiosks along the Susquehanna River to assist boaters, hunters, fishermen, and bird enthusiasts in providing updated changes in the PA laws regarding the use of the river for fish and fowl in connection with the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

Because of your donation, support of Boy Scouts and a belief in me and this project, what I learned is immeasurable. This experience has taught me the full extent of how to manage a complete project plan from start to finish. Even though you do projects in High School, nothing can prepare you for the workload of this. At the time I was the Senior Patrol Leader (the highest leadership position in my Troop) and thought I knew how to lead. Boy was I wrong, my confidence, leadership and communication skills (which in my mind were good) greatly developed over the course of guidance, writing a check, writing and mailing a formal letter, soliciting donations and hosting fundraisers, project labor, and lastly; I greatly improved my ability of talking over the phone. I learned a lot throughout this project which I know helped prepare to better me in life.

Thank you for your support,

Sincerely Yours in Scouting,

Darian Erb, Eagle Scout – Troop 267

It’s great to do big events. But I’m happy to be part of a company that also values the local side of life and the the things we can do in our individual communities that might make a big difference for someone in their life. Best wishes to Eagle Scout, Derian Erb. We know you have a great future ahead of you!